Privacy Policy
Last updated: August 1, 2026
YouBo (“the extension”, “we”, “us”) is a browser extension that adds a toolbox to YouTube — timestamped notes, transcripts, search, organization, focus tools, and optional AI assistance. This policy explains what data the extension handles, where it goes, and the choices you have.
Our design is local-first: if you never sign in, everything you create stays on your own device and nothing is sent to our servers.
Summary
| Data | Where it lives | Leaves your device? |
|---|---|---|
| Notes, transcripts, bookmarks, tags/folders, and other library content | Your browser (IndexedDB) | Only if you sign in on a paid plan and enable cloud sync |
| Which YouTube videos you open (id, title, channel, time) | Your browser | Only if you sign in on a paid plan and enable cloud sync |
| Extension settings | Your browser (chrome.storage) | Only if you sign in on a paid plan (sync) |
| Google account email + user ID | Used to sign in | Yes — to Google/Firebase, to authenticate you |
| Subscription / plan status | Firebase | Yes — to manage your plan |
| Payment / card details | Handled entirely by Stripe | Never touch the extension or our servers |
| Your own AI provider API key ("BYO key") | Your browser only | Never synced or sent to us; sent only to the AI provider you choose |
| AI prompts (transcript text, your questions) | Sent to the AI provider you choose | Only when you use an AI feature |
What we handle, and why
Account and authentication
If you choose to sign in, we use Google Sign-In (via the browser’s identity permission) to authenticate you through Google/Firebase. We receive your Google account email address and a user ID, and use them only to identify your account, sync your data across devices, and manage your subscription. Signing in is optional; core features work signed-out.
Content you create
Notes, transcripts you fetch, bookmarks, tags, folders, and similar library data are stored locally in your browser. On a paid plan with cloud sync enabled, this content is synced to Firebase (Firestore) under your account so it follows you across devices. Free and signed-out users’ content never leaves the device.
Your YouTube library (videos you open)
To build your personal library and power features like search and your watch history within the extension, YouBo records the YouTube videos you open — the video id, title, channel, and time. This stays on your device unless you sign in on a paid plan with cloud sync enabled, in which case it syncs to your account like your other library content. It is never used for advertising, profiling, or tracking you across the web.
Settings
Your preferences are stored in the browser. On a paid plan they may sync to your account. Your BYO AI API key is explicitly excluded from sync and is never uploaded to us.
YouTube page data
To provide its features, the extension reads content from the YouTube pages you visit (for example, video transcripts and basic video metadata). This processing happens on your device, except where you use cloud sync or AI features as described here.
Payments
Paid subscriptions are processed exclusively by Stripe, Inc. Checkout and billing management are hosted on Stripe’s own secure pages. Your card number and payment details are entered on Stripe and are never seen, received, processed, transmitted, or stored by the extension, its developer, or any YouBo server. The extension receives only a non-financial result — your subscription status and plan tier — which it uses to unlock features.
AI features (optional)
AI features are optional. When you use them, the relevant text (such as a transcript and your question) is sent to the AI provider you have selected or configured. If you supply your own provider API key, requests go directly to that provider under your own account, and the key stays on your device. Please review the privacy policy of whichever AI provider you use.
What we do NOT do
- We do not sell or rent your personal data.
- We do not use your data for advertising or third-party ad tracking.
- We do not track your browsing history across other websites (the extension only runs on YouTube).
- We do not use or transfer your data for creditworthiness or lending purposes.
- We do not use or transfer your data for any purpose unrelated to the extension’s single purpose.
Payments and liability
Payment processing for YouBo is provided solely by Stripe, Inc. Card security (including PCI-DSS compliance), fraud handling, refunds, chargebacks, and the storage and processing of financial and payment data are governed entirely by Stripe’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. For those purposes Stripe acts as the processor of your payment information; the extension and its developer neither collect nor have access to that information. Any question, dispute, or issue concerning payment or card data should be directed to Stripe. The extension’s only role in billing is to start a Stripe-hosted checkout or billing-portal session and to read back your resulting plan status.
Disclaimer
YouBo is provided “as is” and “as available”, without warranties of any kind, express or implied. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the developer shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, or for any loss arising from your use of the extension — including, without limitation, any matter relating to payments processed by Stripe or data handled by third-party services (Google/Firebase, Stripe, or an AI provider you choose to use). Your use of those third-party services is subject to their own terms and privacy policies.
Third-party services
- Google / Firebase — authentication and, for paid sync, storage of your account and library data.
- Stripe — payment processing. See Stripe’s Privacy Policy.
- Cloudflare — hosts our billing relay, which creates Stripe checkout/billing sessions on your request.
- Your chosen AI provider (e.g. Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenRouter, or a custom endpoint) — only when you use AI features.
Browser permissions
identity— Google Sign-In, only when you choose to sign in.storage— save your notes, library, and settings locally.alarms— briefly re-check your subscription status after a purchase.- Host access to
youtube.com— run the extension’s features on YouTube;firestore.googleapis.com— account/sync data for signed-in paid users; and our billing relay — start checkout and read your plan status.
Data retention and deletion
- Local data stays until you delete it in the extension, clear your browser data, or uninstall the extension.
- To stop cloud sync, sign out. To request deletion of account data stored in Firebase, contact us at the address below and we will delete it.
Security
We use reputable providers (Google/Firebase, Stripe, Cloudflare) and standard protections such as HTTPS for data in transit. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Children
YouBo is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from them.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy. Material changes will be reflected here with a new “Last updated” date.
Contact
Questions or data requests: pooyashahrdami@gmail.com
This document is provided for transparency and to meet Chrome Web Store requirements. It is not legal advice; for obligations specific to your jurisdiction (such as GDPR, CCPA, or Canada’s PIPEDA), consider having it reviewed by a qualified professional.